The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-27
ArTAcKrzG THE PRESIDENT.
Senator Plumb Sails In and Gets Knocked
Ont.

the senate today, q lively debate sprung up.
Mr.. Plumb referred to Mr.. Pugh's reso-
luton that congress should not adjourn I'M
til action was taken for the DISPOSAL OF the
surplus in the treasury, and said he did
not agree with the president in any of his state
ments in his late annual message, and Inc did
not at all agree with him in saying that.the re-
sponsibiity of non-action in the matter of the
surplus would rest on congress. The primary
responsibility for the present condition of the
treasury resided he thought, with the president
who totally disregarded the law which re-
Quired him, practically, to spend the
surplus in the purchase of the national debt,
The presidents excuse for not doing so
was that a provision of law was found in an
appropriation bill, ana was, therefore, in the
presidents opinion, temporary eXpedient
merely. He (Plumb) did not know any war
rant for the president distinguishing between
laws passed by congress, and saying that ono
provision of law was less mandatory on him
than another provision.
The president, in his message had omitted to
state one important fact, which was that the
last congress passed law requiring him affirm
atively to pay ten millions month in discharge
of the public debt, and that the president
had put that bill in his pocket, thus preventing
it becoming a law.
Mr.. Beck remarked that the president had
paid the money out even faster than that bill
required.
Mr.. Plumb regarded that as only another way
that the president had for saying that he thought
he could do better himself than congress knew
how to tell him. The president had also for
gotten to take note of the fact that the river
and harbor bin which appropriated some
S14,O00,000 had failed not because of
any lack of action by congress. The deficiency
bill, covering over $S,000C00, had also failed
last session because of the neglect of the demo-
cratic majority in the house, and these two
sums would have made very comfortable adj
dition to the current funds of the people at this
juncture.
Mr.. Beck said he did not propose to go into
debate i'll regard to the presidents policy, on a
resolution for the holiday adjournment. He
assumed that the resolution would prevail
Such o recess was usual and he did not know
any exception to it.
But there were something's which the
country ought to know i'll connection with the
statement made by the senator from Kansas.
The senator had not told the country that the
policy of the republican party, by imposingand
maintaining an unnecessarily high taxation,
had produced the surplus, and that the same
party was determined to hold it there, or to
waste it in such schemes as the republican
party might desire. The senator had not told
that the republican party had so
adjusted the debts of the United
paid with money thus brought by high taxa
ton into the treasury. unless such premiums
were paid to the bondhoders as they might
demand The policy of the republican party
had postponed the payment of $250,000000 Of
the debt till 1891, and of $40, 900 GOO till 1907
The president had paid every dollar of the 3
per cent bonds that were payable without pay
ing the pr emium, which tine bondholders
might see fit to ask. The democratic party,
headed by the president, was endeavoring to
reduce the taxes SO that SO large a surplus
should not come into the treasury. All that
the president had said was that it was not the
proper thing for him or the secretary of the
treasury to do to pay. $50 or $3.50 for Ievery
500 of the public debt, and that it was the
duty of congress to reduce the taxation of the
people down to a point that there
would not be a surplus
Mr. Dolph argued that If the proper appr3-
priations were made for rivers and harbors;
for public buildings; for coast Notifications;
for dependent pensioners; for the encourage
ment of American commerce and the Nicara-
guam Canal, there would DO no surplus IN the
treasury, and he thought that such policy
was to be preferred to a reduction of the tariff.
Mr.. Vest, in response to Mr.. Plumb's criti-
cism of the president for vetoing the river and
haIbor bill, reminded that senator that the
most virulent attacks upon that bill had come
from himself plumb. He had fought
aafe bill ba y se edoned and in the
it and voted against it. The executive had
only acted in the line OF the senator's argu-
ments. The president had, in his annual
message, defined, and sharply Defined the
issue between the two great parties, and he
to end. He was prepared to gointo the canvass
upon it, and whatever the result might be, he
declared now, publicly, that If the president
had done nothing less than write that mess
age he had proven himself to be an honest,
brave, patriotic man, and worthy of the lead
ership of any party that ever existed in the his
tory of this country.
Mr.. Teller severely criticised the president
for endeavoring to create public alarm in order
to carry out his pet scheme for reducing the
fapifT hot Un moi On uoh
surplus in tho treasury as should necessitate
any haste, or cause any fright or alarm.
Mr.. Stewart was satisfied from the discus
sion today that congress ought not to adjourn
for the holidays. As to the surplus, he was
sure it would continue to be locked up, If the
only remedy was that suggested by the presi-
dent-a reduction of the tariff. The issue pre-
sented to the American people by the presi-
dent was whether it would stop doing its own
work and hire it out. Nations, as well at indi-
viduals, got rich by doing their own work. For
his part he would regulate the matter, not by
reducing, but by raising the tariff.
Mr. Butler expressed contempt for the dis
gushing spectacle which the senate was pre-
senting-for the affectation and hypocrisy ex-
hibited today. There was not senator who did
not know that all that was said about tho SEN
ate remaining i'll session was absolute bosh and
hypocrisy. 1t was the idlest, f1imsiest, shall
lowest hypocrisy he had ever witnessed.
Mr.. Plumb resented the position of public
censor assumed by the senator from South
Carolina.
Mr. Sherman agreed with Mr.. Butter that it
was hardly Aworth while for the senate
to deny the house the usual
privilege of holiday adjourn
ment, but he did not agree with him as to the
character of today's debate On the contrary
he was very much interested in it. 1t had
brought to the attention Of the senate the folly
of some features of the presidents message.
The folly of the president endeavoring to
create scare and alarm about the condition
of the country, because, fortunately, there was
a surplus of &55,OOO,0O0 in the treasury
He did not believe, however
that there was any such occasion for
alarm. He believed that the Ian uage OF the
president was entirely too strong.
A surplus Of 500, 900 900 was less than was in the
treasury at other periods OF the present admin
istration. He thought it but reasonable and
right that the humbug by which it was
sought to frighten the country should be
punctured, exploded, or explained away. The
question would doubtless have to be ap-
preached in a temperate, fair manner.
The adjournment resolution was concurred
in.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Beck on the
18th instant, directing the postoffice committee
to inquire into the advisability Of reducing the
rate Of letter postage to one cent was taken up
and referred to that committee.
Mr.. Dawes called up the bill to amend the